Agenda item

Consider update report by the Executive Director on key activities within the Hawick Action Plan.  (Copy attached.)

            With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 5 December 2017, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Executive Director providing a progress report on key activities within the Hawick Action Plan following the last meeting in December 2017.   The Hawick Action Plan was structured around three key themes which had been identified and agreed by the key stakeholders for the town.  The themes were: making Hawick a ‘Great Place for Working and Investing’; a ‘Great Place for Living and Learning’; and a ‘Great Destination to Visit’ and there had been progress within these themes, with priority actions identified.  Completed actions and areas of progress were set out in Appendix 1 to the report and a number of key areas of progress were contained within the report.   Key areas of activity included progress of work relating to industrial units at the Galalaw Business Park; design work for the former Armstrong’s building as part of the Hawick Business Growth project with £3.625m of Scottish Government funding; progress on the design and consultation of Hawick Flood Protection Scheme; tourism marketing activity and new signage; feasibility study funding to progress a film initiative; and further research for a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.  Work continued in partnership with the Scottish Government, the new South of Scotland Economic Partnership and local agencies to further develop the Hawick Action Plan and key projects identified within it.  Executive Director, Mr Dickson summarised the report and highlighted some projects within the Action Plan.  A Planning Application in respect of the former Armstrong’s Building was due to be submitted during the Spring of 2018 and it was anticipated that up to 17 business incubator units would be provided on the redeveloped site with the potential for creation of 25 FTE jobs.  As an off-shoot of the Borders Alchemy Film Project, funding had been provided to carry out a feasibility study into whether a film project to include production studios, film making and skills training for school leavers could be progressed in Hawick, promoting both the town and the wider Scottish Borders as a place of choice.  Following initial research in 2017 on the feasibility and options for a townscape heritage-based scheme for Hawick town centre, and discussions between Council officers and potential funders, Scottish Borders Council was now gathering information and evidence which would be required for a potential funding application.  SBC intended to progress a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) project with a potential application to Historical Environment Scotland in September 2018.  With reference to mobile connectivity, it was noted that two Planning Applications had been submitted by EE to improve mobile ‘phone coverage in two rural areas in and around Hawick.

DECISION:

(a)        NOTED the progress made in taking forward key actions within the Hawick Action Plan since December 2017, as set out in Appendix 1;

(b)       AGREED to:-

            (i)         support further work with businesses and stakeholders in Hawick in 2018/19 as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(ii)        to receive a further progress report by the Executive Director on

            the Action Plan by the end of 2018.